Elk on a shelf: Climbers rescue creature tangled in rope on ice route

Wildlife officials and climbers rescue a bull elk after the animal became entangled in a rope - (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Climbers and wildlife officials were called in to rescue a bull elk by lowering it down a cliff after the animal became entangled in a rope at a popular ice climbing area.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said a group of ice climbers in Lake City encountered the distressed elk Friday morning, and a CPW biologist darted the ungulate with a tranquilizer and covered part of its head with a ski mask to protect its eyes during the rescue.